OWIT Port Tour

On October 13, 10 OWIT-NY members traveled to the Port of Newark’s Corbin Street location for an exclusive tour. The half-day’s activities began with a presentation by Kevin McCabe, Chief of the Seaport Operations Division, which is responsible for all of the Port’s counterterrorism and narcotics issues. Mr. McCabe began the presentation with an overview of the Port’s jurisdiction and facilities. Among the information provided by Mr. McCabe, OWIT-NY participants learned that the Port’s jurisdiction encompasses the entire area between Montauk and Poughkeepsie, the Port contains six container terminals (4 in New Jersey and 2 in New York), and possesses major rail links that connect the Port to the United States’ railroad infrastructure.

Mr. McCabe also provided his thoughts on current trends in international trade flows. Because the Port is the busiest on the East Coast of the United States, and the second busiest in the country (after Los Angeles-Long Beach), Mr. McCabe emphasized that it serves as important barometer for assessing U.S. trade flows.

Towards the end of the presentation, Mr. McCabe described CBP’s post-911 cargo security strategy. He noted that in the post-911 climate, CBP has put several new security priorities into place, more specifically: the prevention of weapon shipments, advanced shipment targeting in foreign ports, improved efficiency and speed of the movement of trade, and the interception of counterfeit goods. To achieve these new priorities, CBP has pursued what Mr. McCabe called a “layered, in-depth” approach. CBP pursues this approach through specific initiatives (for example, Container Security Initiative and Security Freight Initiative), improved electronic information and advanced targeting systems, and the systematization of risk assessment. To this last point, Mr. McCabe explained that risk assessment is now performed on 100% of cargo that is imported into the United States. “High risk” items are immediately flagged by CBP’s electronic systems, and CBP officers periodically screen for “medium” or “low” risk cargo.

Finally, Mr. McCabe discussed CBP’s new initiative to screen all inbound cargo for radiation. Before 911, the Port only screened 30% of all imports into the United States; now, it screens 100% in one of 42 radiation detection devices. CBP has invested heavily in updating its radiation screening technology from “mobile gamma ray” to “vacis,” a mobile imaging system. Mr. McCabe noted that CBP’s new vacis system is more powerful and portable than the mobile gamma ray system.

Throughout Mr. McCabe’s presentation, OWIT-NY members asked several questions about importer security filings (“ISF”), specifically why CBP issues ISF report cards and how importers can successfully use them. OWIT-NY members were also keen in understanding what CBP does with the counterfeit goods that it intercepts.

The event concluded with a tour of the “field,” in which several CBP officers showed OWIT-NY participants how containers are unloaded and radiation screening is performed. OWIT-NY members also had the opportunity to view a bonded warehouse, and watch a handler move a container from a ship to a dock in preparation for radiation screening.

Overall, the Tour provided OWIT-NY members with an excellent opportunity to better understand the Port’s operations and CBP’s cargo security strategy. OWIT-NY looks forward to an ongoing relationship with the Port of Newark and CBP in the future. Please contact Courtney Lutterman at courtney.lutterman@ey.com with any questions or comments.